Corn and cane harvester



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

No Model.)

B. B. ROBBINS.

CORN AND CANE HABVESTER.

No. 407,244. Ratented July 16, 1889.

WITNESSES (I r/ I x {No 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. k R. B. ROBBINS.

CORN AND CANE HARVESTER.

No. 407,244. Patented July 16, 1889.

WITNESSES INT EN R I flttorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD l3. ROBBINS, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

CORN AND CANE HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,244, dated July 16, 1889.

Application filed May 12, 1888- To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD B. ROBBINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (our and Cane lIarvesters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in corn and cane harvesters; and it consists in certain novelty in the construction and arrangement of the various parts, all of which I will now proceed to point out and describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end elevation of a harvester embodying my invention; Fig. 2,21- side elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a plan View; and Fig. I is a detail.

Referring to said drawings, the main frame of the machine is composed of side bars 2 and 3 and a central longitudinal bar I connected at their forward ends by a crossbar 0. (Shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.)

6 is a rear cross-bar connecting the bars 2 and I.

7 is a timber secured to the top of the side bar 3 and extending back of the frame.

A is a rectangular frame mounted on uprights 8, secured to the bars 2 and I. Said frame A is provided with cross-bars 9 and 10.

a is a seat-bar secured to the forward portion of the frame A, on which is mounted the drivers seat a.

B is an axle loosely mounted in bearings Z) on the under side of the bars 2, 3, and I.

O O are suitable supporting-wheels loosely mounted on the axle. One of said wheels is provided with a clutch I), one section of which is splined to the axle and is provided with an operating-lever D, located within convenient reach of the driver. By means of this lever the machine maybe thrown in or out of gear as desired.

E E are shafts secured to the rectangular frame A. In the present instance they are formed as extensions of the side bars of said frame.

Serial No. 273,682. (No model.)

E is a brace connecting the inner shaft with the frontcross-bar 5 at a point near the cutter, and is arranged to equalize the side draft of the machine.

G is a receiving-table secured on and connecting the bars 3 and I. Said table is located to one side of and below the level of the rectangular frame A. On said table the butts of the stalks rest when out, as hereinafter described. The rear portion G of said table is downwardly inclined. Said inclined part of the table may be hinged, so as to permit its adjustment at any desired inclination. The cutter is located at the outer forward corner of the receiving-table at the point where it is desired to have the same engage with the stalks, and it is composed of two independent blades f f secured to and projecting in front of the receiving-table, so as to leave a space between said blades, which have diagonal cutting-edges approximate to each other, converging rearwardly and connected at their rear ends by an adjustable transverse blade f having its cutting-edge projecting beyond the recciving-tal'ile. Said blades ff" are provided with two or more bolt-holes f and when the blade f is adjusted parallel with the front edge of the table it is secured to the blades f f by suitable bolts and nuts f, which also serve to secure said blades ff to the table. \Vhen it is desired to set the blade f at a different anglefor instance, as shown in Fig. I in dotted linesone bolt 1" is simply used to attach the blade f to the table and another bolt f is used to attach the outer end of the blade f to the blade f. From this description itwill be apparent that the out ting-edges of said blades can be adjusted at different angles to each other.

Secured to the timber 7 are uprights 12,13, and II, on which is secured a bar 15, said bar being substantially parallel with the inner side of the rectangular frame A and extending back of the rear end of the receiving-table. The uprights 12, 13, and let and bar 15 are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. To the upright lI are secured bearings c, in which is mounted an upright hollow shaft II, carrying on its lower end a bevel-gear I, which engages with a bevel-gear I, rigidly mounted on the axle.

H is a telescopic extension of the shaft H, secured to said shaft by a set-screw h. Said extension has formed on its upper end a double crank h 71. to which are pivotallysecured gathering-arms K K, having inwardlycurved outer ends 1670. The rear ends of said arms are mounted in a guide H formed on the upper end of a standard H secured to the timber 7. \Vhen the axle is in gear with the wheels, the shaft H and its extension are rotated, and through the double crank of said extension impart an elliptical movement to the curved ends of the gathering-arms, causing them to pass alternately in front of and back over the cutter and thus gather the stalks toward said cutter. By means of the telescopic extension of the shaft H the gathering-arms may be raised or lowered to suit the height of the stalks.

L is a short vertical shaft mounted in a bearing (1, formed in the receiving-table and carrying on its lower end a bevel-gear L, which engages with a bevel-gear L rigidly mounted on the axle. On the upper end of the shaft L is formed a double crank Z Z, to which is pivotally secured straight arms M M, the rear ends of which are mounted in a guide (1, formed on the lower end of ahanger (1 secured to the cross-bar 9 of the frame A. As the shaft L is rotated, the outer ends of the arms M M are given an elliptical movement, passing alternately in front of and back over the cutter, thus engaging with the stalks and forcing them against said cutter. As said stalks are severed, they are carried back by the arms K and M onto the receiving-ta ble, their butts resting on said table, until said stalks fall into the carrier, hereinafter described.

The extended portion of the bar 15, back of the receiving-table, is beveled on its inner side, and to said extended portion are secured doWnwardly-projecting inclined fingers N.

O is a horizontal shaft mounted in bearings o, secured to the inner side of the frame A. Said shaft is parallel with the bar 15 and extends back of said frame A. On the extended portion of the shaft O'are secured two sets of oppositely-disposed curved fingers P. Said fingers form with the fingers N the bundle or gavel carrier.

0 is a ratchet on the shaft 0.

R is a foot-lever fulcrumed on the cross-' bar 10 and having on its end a pawl 1", which engages with the ratchet 0 and holds one set of fingers in position to co-operate with the fingers N to receive the stalks as they fall on said fingers P and N. When a sufficient quantity of stalks have accumulated to form a bundle or gavel, the driver pressing with his foot upon the lever B, releases the pawl from the ratchet and the weight of the bundle causes the shaft O to make a half-revolution and dump said bundle, the other set of fingers P on said shaft coming into position to receive the next bundle.

My machine is especially adapted for one horse, as it can be made of very light Weight. Of course by simply attaching a tongue, instead of the shafts, two horses may be used.

The construction of the cutter enables the cutting-edges of the knife-blades to be adjusted at any desired angle, and also prevents said cutter from becoming clogged. Should any one of the blades require sharpening, it may readily be removed, or a new blade may be substituted in its place.

My improved harvester is very light, is simple in its construction, can be manufactured cheaply, and thoroughly accomplishes the object for which it is constructed.

Having thus fully described myinvention,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a corn and cane harvester, the combination, with a main frame, a receiving-table secured on said frame, a stalk-cutter secured to and projecting in front of the receiving-table, an axle mounted in bearin gs on the frame, suitable wheels mounted on said axle, and a clutch connecting one of said wheels with the axle, of an upright hollow shaft mounted in suitable bearings and located to one side of and back of the cutter, and

having a bevel-gear on its lower end engaging with a bevel-gear rigidly mounted on the axle,

a telescopic extension mounted in the hollow shaft and provided with a double crank on its upper end, gathering-arms pivotally secured to said double crank, a suitable guide in which said arms rock, and a set-screw mounted in the upright hollow shaft and adapted to engage with the telescopic extension and secure it to the hollow shaft at any desired vertical adjustment, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as shown and described, whereby the forward ends of the gathering-arms will have an elliptical movement, passing alternately in front of and back over the cutter.

2. In a corn and cane harvester, the combination, with a main frame, a receiving-table secured on said frame, a stalk-cutter secured on and projecting in front of -said receivingtable, an axle B, mounted in bearings 011 the frame, wheels 0 C, mounted on the axle, and a clutch D, connecting one of said wheels with said axle, of an upright hollow shaft H, mounted in suitable bearings and located to one side of and back of the cutter, and having a bevel-gear I on its lower end engaging with a bevel-gear I, rigidly mounted on the axle, a telescopic extension H, .mounted in the hollow shaft and provided with a double crank on its upper end, a set-screw h, mounted in the hollow shaft and adapted ,to engage with the telescopic extension and secure it to said hollow shaft at the desired vertical adjustment, gathering-arms K K, pivotally secured to the double crank and working in a guide H a short upright shaft L, mounted in a bearing in the receiving-table located back of and on the opposite side of the cutter from the shaft H, and having a double crank on its eoaeqa upper end and a bevel-gear L on its lower end engaging with a bevel-gear L rigidly mounted on the axle, and arms M H, pivotally secured to said double crank and working in a guide (1, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as shown and described.

In a corn and cane harvester, the combination, with a main frame, an elevated rectangular frame A, secured on suitable up rights, a receiving-table secured on said main frame to one side of and below the elevated frame, a cutter mounted on and projecting in front of the receiving-table, a bar 15, secured to suitable uprights on the outer side of the receiving-table, said bar being parallel with the inner side of the elevated frame and extending back of the receiving-table, and having inwardly and downwardly proj ecting fingers N formed on its extended portion, of a shaft 0, mounted in bearings formed on the inner side of the elevated frame and extendin g back of said elevated frame parallel with mounted on said shaft 0, a foot'leverR, having a pawl 7', adapted to engage with the ratchet and alternately hold the oppositelydisposed sets of fingers P P in position to cooperate With the fingers N to receive the stalks, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as shown and described.

l. In a corn and cane harvester, a main frame, a cutter comprising two blades secured to and projecting in front of the frame so as to leave a space between the blades, said blades having diagonal cutting-edges converging inwardly toward each other, and atransverse blade connecting the inner ends of the projecting blades and adjustably secured thereto, whereby its cutting-edge may be adjusted at different angles to the cutting-edges of said projecting blades, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD B. ROBBINS.

Witnesses:

WM. B. THoMrsoN, E. N. SMITH. 

